Https://wiki.ubc.ca/Course:VANT149/2026/Capstone/Arts/Presentation43

Name: Yuxin Luo

Student Number: 40764979

Course: VANT 149 V01

Date: May 22, 2026

Instructors: Dr. Jaclyn Rea, Dr. Stewart Prest, and Dr. Strang Burton

Presenter: Yuxin Luo

Title:  Beyond Screen Time: A Proposed Quantitative Study of Problematic Social Media Use and Depressive Symptoms among Vancouver Adolescents

Type of Presentation:  Oral Presentation

Abstract

In this oral presentation, I will introduce a proposed quantitative study motivated by concern about social media use and depressive symptoms over the past two weeks. Existing research links social media use to depression, anxiety, and psychological distress, but studies emphasize different parts of this relationship. Keles et al. show that social media use includes frequency, time spent, and addictive use, while Piteo and Ward focus on depressive or anxiety symptoms among children and adolescents. Fagundes et al. explain social comparison, and Watson et al. highlight school connectedness, meaning support, respect, and belonging at school, as a protective factor. Building on these studies, this project asks whether problematic social media use is significantly associated with depressive symptoms among adolescents ages 13–18 in Vancouver after controlling for gender, average daily time spent on social media, and school connectedness. This study separates time spent online from problematic use, meaning loss of control, compulsive checking, and interference with daily life. Data would be collected through an anonymous questionnaire from 300–500 Vancouver adolescents and analyzed using correlation and regression analysis. I expect problematic use to be associated with higher depressive symptoms. Limitations include self-reported data, one-time survey design, and limited causal claims.

Biography

Yuxin Luo is an undergraduate student in the Vantage Arts program at the University of British Columbia. Her academic interests include psychology,  adolescent mental health, social media, and education. This proposed project reflects her interest in how everyday digital habits may affect young people’s mental health and how research can help identify more specific support for adolescents.